Against the Sea II: Tales On and Under the Sea

by John E. Christ

  Against the Sea II

  Tales On and Under the Sea

  John E. Christ

  

  © 2015 John E. Christ - All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of any part of this material without express and written permission from the author is strictly prohibited. The moral right of John E. Christ (the author) has been asserted.

  Cover art by Yael Eylat-Tanaka.

  Table of Contents

  Preface

  Beneath the Ice

  The Light

  Turnabout

  Maelstrom

  The Pelican

  Deep Water

  Pirate Attack

  Preface

  The ocean is a place where anything and everything can happen. Come take a voyage into the realms of real rough waters and storms. In Beneath the Ice journey to the depths of a lake beneath miles of frozen ice; in The Light experience horror from an unexpected predator; in Turnabout the strongest always win; in Maelstrom the force of Mother Nature deals justice; in The Pelican sloppy seamanship leads to disaster; in Deep Water a childhood nightmare becomes reality; and in Pirate Attack a big ship defends itself against human pirates. These stories contain something for everyone: adventure, horror and science fiction. Read and be transported to places far from shore.

  Beneath the Ice

  The C-47 landed smoothly on the ice under a clear crystal blue sky. Dimitri adjusted his sunglasses and waved at the faces he thought he saw in the passenger windows. When the plane came to a stop he followed the other members of Vostok Station to greet the incoming scientist. After nearly 5 years of preparation, everything and everybody was finally congregating at the planned site. The long delay was not so much where, or even how, but more a matter of money. Fortunately, all of those concerns were fully behind. Dimitri was more than anxious to meet his American partner and get, as his partner would so often say, the show on the road.

  For January, the early part of the Antarctic summer, the temperature hovered barely above zero. Vostok was certainly not noted for its balmy weather well inland on the continent at an elevation of 11,220 feet. In fact, one of the coldest temperatures ever recorded was right here. On July 21, 1983, the middle of the southern hemisphere winter, an astounding -129°F was encountered. Needless to say, being stationed at Vostok was never a desire of anyone sent there. Dimitri spent enough time in Antarctica at Vostok that the cold actually never came into his conscious thought.

  By the time Dimitri reached the plane, several of the passengers had already exited onto the ice. Even with the bulky clothing, he immediately recognized his partner Jones. Waves were vigorously exchanged until they met together near the tail of the plane.

  “I hope your trip was comfortable.” Dimitri tried to speak without a trace of his Russian accent.

  “As comfortable as can be expected I suppose...” Jones tried to restrain a smile but was clearly unable to hide it completely.

  “Come. We go inside where it’s a lot warmer and we can make our final plans.” Dimitri pointed at the largest base structure among several other smaller ones.

  “Lead the way, my friend.”

  They got into an enclosed vehicle with a driver. Dimitri gave directions and the driver immediately started toward the designated building. Jones sat beside Dimitri letting his elation conspicuously show. Dimitri acknowledged the feeling with a reciprocal grin of his own.

  Once inside the main station building, they removed most of the cumbersome protective clothing and went directly to the dining hall where Russian tea and American coffee filled enormous urns at almost all hours of any twenty-four hour period. In sort of ironic reverse, Dimitri had a large mug of coffee while Jones chose the tea. They sat at a table with extra chairs expecting others from the team to arrive shortly.

  “Is everything ready?” Jones was not one for beating around the bush.

  “Everything is as I have told you in my reports. There is nothing left for you and me but to begin our journey.” Dimitri grinned triumphantly.

  Jones shook his head slowly. “Dimitri Nicolovich, you are always too eager to jump forward. Are you sure everything is ready?”

  “My good friend, John Paul Jones, knows better than I.” The expression on Dimitri’s face remained triumphant.

  “With all our preparations we have risked nothing. Now we will risk everything, including our lives.”

  “And did we not know that from the beginning?”

  Jones remained silent for a moment staring into Dimitri’s eyes. He saw no fear. “There is a possibility we may never return.”

  “As there is also a possibility the sun will not rise tomorrow.” Dimitri remained unfazed. “Of course, at this time of the year the sun never sets in Antarctica.”

  After a brief moment of silence, they broke into loud laughter. Admiral Sergei Kostov appeared at the table cutting the reverie short. Both men stood immediately to formally meet the visitor.

  “Welcome to Vostok, Doctor Jones.” The Admiral extended his right hand. “I hope you had a pleasant trip.”

  Jones extended his hand into the Admiral’s and shook it. “Thank you, Admiral; my trip was at the very least comfortable.”

  “Good.” The Admiral smiled and nodded. “I am sure Dimitri has informed you that everything is in readiness to proceed without further delay. How much time do you need to personally prepare yourself?”

  “A shave, a shower, a good meal and an unmentionable and I will be completely ready.”

  “So be it.” The Admiral laughed. “Please continue as you were and I will have my technicians prepare for your departure.”

  Jones looked at the clock on the wall. “I will be ready by 10 o’clock.”

  “And so shall everything else.” The Admiral turned abruptly and left as quickly as he appeared. The two men looked at each other and broke into laughter.

  “Sometimes the Admiral can be a stuffed shirt? No?” Dimitri smiled.

  “No, the Admiral is only doing his job. I have no qualms about how he treats us or what his job is. It is more important to work together as a team than for us to worry about political protocol.” Jones finished his tea and got up. “Please excuse me while I attend to my last minute duties. I will meet you as soon as I am finished.”

  The next two hours passed in a blur of activity for everyone involved. Although there was a great deal of public interest in the project, no reporters were allowed at the Vostok Station. All media coverage was generated by a team of Russian naval technicians along with an American naval communications advisor. The chance discovery of an enormous lake by satellite below Vostok in 1996-97 was met with little public fanfare. However, the project to launch a manned expedition below the ice and the newly discovered lake was likened to diving into the seas of Europa. The scientific community and public were more curious than expectant of any surprises. It was a matter of exploring a new frontier and it was a media event. They entered the shuttle which ran through a sub ground level tunnel from the main building three quarters of a mile to the staging building. When they arrived the glare of the klieg lights caused both to temporarily squint. By the time they removed all their personal baggage their eyes had become accustomed to the brilliant lights focused primarily on the product of all the development money.

  “There she is, Kryosphere I.” There was more than a hint of excitement in Dimitri’s voice. “Does she meet your approval?”

  Jones gawked. “It is exactly what I expected.” He could find no other words to express his feelings.

  “Let us go aboard and get ready.” There was no hesitation on either part. Several technicians assisted them with perso
nal luggage. Inside the air was gently circulating at a temperature of 68°F. On the command console were digital numbers counting down the time.

  “Now, I’m really impressed.” Jones settled into the navigator’s seat and scanned the instruments. “Everything is identical to the simulator. I don’t think we are going to have any problems with this baby.”

  “Nor will I have any problem with my part. The technology is tried and proven reliable. We will go down beneath the ice, explore whatever we please, touch bottom and return as easily as going for a bottle of milk at the grocery store.” Dimitri finished storing the luggage and sat in the command seat. “Let’s check our equipment and get ready.”

  Every system and instrument tested perfect. Without further ado, Kryosphere I was sealed and the internal life-support system rechecked. Again everything proved in perfect operational status. Dimitri watched the countdown timer waving that departure was imminent.

  “10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1…heaters on!” Dimitri was unable to keep his voice at an even level. The excitement was clearly visible in his face and tone of voice.

  They adjusted earphones to cancel out the constant background noise hum. The hum represented fluids circulating through the nuclear pile heated under pressure. The superheated liquid flowed into conduits surrounding the sphere. As the ice melted the weight of the vehicle descended much as a submarine would.

  “How long will it take us to get through the ice?” Dimitri never let his eyes stray from the instrument monitor.

  “I’ve calculated the ice is at least 5000 feet at this site underneath us. Our rate of descent will be determined by how much heat we can safely apply to the ice.”

  “I plan going slow at first. The deeper we go, the more heat I'll apply. I want to be one hundred percent sure we will have no problems with the reactor.” Every bit of emotion in Dimitri’s voice was replaced by the steel coolness of the professional he was.

  Jones adjusted his monitor and observed the melting ice below them. “I never thought I would ever see this.” Dimitri nodded.

  “Kryonaut Dimitri.”

  Dimitri was somewhat startled to hear his name through his headset, but he immediately recognized the voice. “Yes, Admiral.”

  “Report.” The Admiral was not given to sentiments. He had trained under the old school when his country was dominated by the Soviet Union. Old habits were hardest to break as he well knew.

  “We are progressing satisfactorily. All systems are functioning to our expectations. We should break through the ice in less than twelve hours, providing there are no surprises.” Dimitri said flatly.

  “Good.” The Admiral’s response sounded like a grunt. “The communication cable is going out smoothly behind you. Let me know the moment you hit open water.”

  “Of course, Admiral, you’ll be the first to hear from us.”

  “Continue as you were.”

  The earphones became silent and Dimitri looked over at Jones who watched with a thumbs-up smile. Jones shrugged for no apparent reason to which Dimitri laughed. The tension of the communication was broken and their respective duties resumed.

  “Just imagine how many years of ice we are passing, Dimitri.” Jones adjusted the focus of the monitor. “At one time Antarctica was as tropical as Hawaii but then the cold set in freezing everything. Lake Vostok is like a capsule of an age frozen in time.”

  “I’m not so sure I completely agree with you, my friend.” From the beginning Dimitri always had a different perspective. “Wherever there is free water, there is always the possibility of life. And with life there is constant flux in the environment. It is as if life is a catalyst for constant change. I expect we will find some sort of microscopic life.”

  “Perhaps...” Jones was willing to concede a point when logically made. “Although I cannot imagine any form of life, buried away from a source of light and heat and continue to thrive.”

  “How quickly you forget.” Dimitri chuckled. “There were those who stated it was impossible for life to exist at the bottom of the ocean and yet there are forms of life thriving around volcanic vents. Deep water has always kept its secrets from us. We are just beginning to understand the flexibility of life in extremely harsh environments.”

  “I understand the arguments for life, but I need visual proof to fully believe.”

  “Perhaps today you will become a believer.”

  “We shall see.”

  The hours went by faster than expected. From time to time a sharp clang came from the hull indicating a solid mass frozen in the ice. Most likely these masses represented ancient meteors fallen eons ago. At least once, Jones caught a glimpse of one such object on the monitor. He was hoping to collect some on the descent. Unfortunately, that was not a part of the primary mission and would have to wait for another day.

  “Hungry?” Jones felt the beginning of a stomach pang. “Would you care to join me?”

  “Not now.” Dimitri spoke abruptly. “My intuition tells me we are close to our primary goal. I suggest you prepare yourself.”

  “Putting something in my belly is part of my preparation and it should be part of yours. I don’t think we will much feel like eating once we have broken through the ice.”

  Dimitri reluctantly agreed and they ate in silence. During the previous ten hours of descent virtually nothing of any import happened. All systems remained functioning at optimum capacity. Jones did several sonar scans of the surrounding ice and tested the composition of the water at multiple levels. For all intents and purposes, it felt as if they were out in the open sea, only every drop of water was frozen in place.

  “Dimitri, I am getting a clear reading of the bottom of the ice. We are almost there!” Jones was unable to conceal his excitement. “Do you want me to tell the Admiral?”

  Contact was established with the Admiral on the surface who when he heard they were soon to break into free water could not suppress the jubilation in his voice. Until they broke through the Admiral would remain in constant contact.

  “You Americans may have conquered outer space, but we Russians have done the same to inner space.” The Admiral’s comment was unexpected.

  “Pardon me, Admiral.” Dimitri felt compelled to respond quickly. “But this mission is a joint venture as is the International Space Station. In science, there are no national boundaries. Or if there are, there should be none. Don’t you agree?”

  A moment of silence, a cough and the Admiral finally spoke. “I apologize to you, Doctor Jones. I know you are an American. It is hard for an old-timer like me to get used to the idea we are no longer rivals. Old habits and thinking die hard.”

  “There is no reason to apologize, Admiral.” Jones was surprised, not upset, at the nationalistic comment. “Every country has a right to feel pride in its accomplishments. I think both our countries can equally take credit for putting this mission together.”

  “Excuse me gentlemen.” Dimitri said firmly. “We are about to break through.”

  A loud crack reverberated through the cockpit and the bottom suddenly dropped away. Without any warning the Kryosphere I rapidly plunged into free water. Dimitri and Jones were hurled to one side as the craft started listing in its descent. Dimitri adjusted the buoyancy as fast as he could. The craft vibrated violently and complained with loud creaks and metallic groans at the massive pressure. Fortunately, Dimitri trained in the simulator for such a circumstance and managed to both stabilize the craft and stop the uncontrolled descent. He never once doubted he could do otherwise. Under control, he looked at Jones and gave a wide grin and a bold thumbs-up. They had arrived.

  “Dimitri, we have a problem. We have lost contact with the surface. I think the communication cable has broken.” There was tension his voice. Even so there was no hint of panic.

  “I’ll turn the lights on.” Dimitri calmly flipped several switches and pointed. “Watch your screen.”

  The lights illuminated a vast unbroken sheet of white above. As Dimitri moved the l
ights and camera, the tunnel they had come through had either been displaced significantly or it had erased itself by refreezing. Dimitri favored the refreezing theory, while Jones insisted on the fact the Kryosphere had moved considerably away from the opening.

  “There is no use debating a moot point.” Dimitri huffed. “Our trip back to the surface is not dependent on the original breakthrough tunnel. We can melt our way upward at any place and at any time we choose. Perhaps it is better for us to remain untethered and unrestricted by commands from the surface.”

  “And what will the Admiral think?”

  “The Admiral will wait for our return. We are Kryonauts in the best possible ship to navigate under these extreme circumstances. Everything is powered by the nuclear reactor. The only concern we will eventually have is food and even that we have more than enough for a three-month voyage. I think the engineers planned for such a possibility. We have nothing to fear. Our job remains to explore this new world as if we had taken an interplanetary voyage. This is, at least for me, a chance of a lifetime.”

  “I agree with the opportunity part.” Jones spoke slowly as he collected his thoughts. “I just have reservations when things do not go as originally planned. It makes me wonder what will go wrong next.”

  “In that case, let’s recheck all our systems until we are certain there are no other problems. Then let us inventory our supplies.” Dimitri spoke with assurance even though he tacitly agreed to the points Jones made.

  After a rigorous re-examination of the Kryosphere, they felt certain all was in perfect working order. The food stores were as advertised with a surprise finding. The Admiral had put a case of premium vodka on board with a note to celebrate and enjoy. This heartened them to cheer up and proceed with gusto. They decided the first order of business before anything else was to celebrate properly. Jones opened the first bottle of vodka and poured two generous glasses. After two glasses each and several toasts to everything from apple pie to the Fatherland they finally put their minds toward the dark water outside. Before moving in any direction Jones completed a set of readings that included pressure, temperature, salinity, chemical components of the water and depth. There were no surprises.